Pope Francis used his last will and his will to detail his wishes for where he would like to be buried after his death.
The head of the Catholic Church Died Monday At the age of 88, just One day after celebrating Easter With a surprise appearance at St. Peter’s Square. The Vatican said he Death of a stroke This caused a coma and led to irreversible heart failure.
In the will, dated June 29, 2022, Francis wrote that with the “feeling that the sunset of my earthly life is approaching”, he wanted to express his preferences in terms of plans for his funeral.
“I have always entrusted my life and my priestly and episcopal ministry to the mother of our lord, the holy Marie,” he wrote in the document, published by the Vatican on Monday. “Consequently, I ask that my mortal remains rest pending the day of the resurrection in the papal basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.”
The church of the 5th century is one of the four papal basilicas in Rome and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. He noted that it was also there that he visited to pray after each of his more than 100 trips abroad.
“I ask that my grave be prepared in the niche of the lateral nave between the Pauline chapel (chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the SFORZA chapel of the aforementioned papal basilica,” said Francis in his will.
“The grave must be on earth; simple, without any particular decoration and with the only inscription: Franciscus.”
Unlike the other popes, he did not ask for any mention of his papacy in the inscription – only his name.
Grzegorz Galazka / Archivio Grzegorz Galazka / Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images
He put an end to his will with: “May the Lord give the deserved reward to those who loved me and will continue to pray for me. The suffering which has become present in the last part of my life that I offered to the Lord for peace in the world and the brotherhood among the peoples.”
Full text of the last will and will of Pope Francis
Feeling that the sunset of my earthly life is approaching and with an hope animated in eternal life, I wish to express my will in the place of my burial. I have always entrusted my life and my priestly and episcopal ministry to the mother of our Lord, the most holy. Consequently, I ask that my mortal remains rest pending the day of the resurrection in the papal basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
I hope that my last terrestrial trip ends precisely in this former Marian sanctuary where I went for prayer at the beginning and at the end of each apostolic trip to entrust my intentions with confidence to the Immaculate Mother and thank her for her docile and maternal care.
I ask that my grave be prepared in the niche of the lateral nave between the Pauline chapel (chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza chapel of the papal basilica above as indicated in the closed attachment.
The tomb must be on earth; Simple, without particular decoration and with the only inscription: Franciscus.
The expenses of preparation for my burial will be covered by the sum of the benefactor that I organized, to be transferred to the papal basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and of which I provided appropriate instructions to the Mons. Rolandas Makrickas, extraordinary commissioner of the Liberian chapter.
May the Lord give the deserved reward to those who loved me and will continue to pray for me. The suffering which has become present in the last part of my life that I offered to the Lord for peace in the world and fraternity among peoples.